You know how the birthday party run goes. Wake up. Hustle kid to shower, dress, brush hair and teeth. Race to store and buy some $20 lump of plastic with “Future Landfill” written all over it. Get the shop assistant to slap on some garish wrapping paper and shove it in some eye-searingly uncool bag. Sigh. Sure, that’s the best you can do at the time, but with a little forward thinking it is possible to give beautiful, hip, lovingly hand-crafted birthday presents—without spending any more.
Here, my picks of affordable handmade birthday gifts for kids guaranteed to be a hit:
10 Cool Handmade Birthday Gifts for Kids
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Mouse Dress Up Hat
Hats are awesome. Mice are awesome. This Mouse Dress Up Hat ($38) from from Wild Things Funky Little Dresses at Down That Little Lane? Well, it’s awesome squared.
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Felt Food
The real deal cause whole-food mamas to choke on their Pressed Juices Master Cleanse, so let them feast their eyes on this adorable Felt Food Hamburger, French Fries & Chicken Nugget Set ($35.73) instead.
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Black Sausage Dog Bandana Bib
Sausage dogs! Sausage dogs! Sausage dogs! Oh, and did we mention the sausage dogs on this Black Sausage Dog Bandana Bib ($9)?
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Personalised Partners in Crime Necklace
For little besties, nothing says it better than this personalised Partners in Crime Necklace ($11.90) from birdshome on Etsy.
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Apatosaurus in a Tiny Bottle
Genius idea we wish we’d thought of #317: putting a teensy little dinosaur skeleton in a teensy little bottle like this Apatosaurus in a Tiny Bottle ($36.39) from tinyworldinabottle on Etsy.
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Hipster Owl
Hipsters are cute and all, but this Hipster Owl Cube with Big Nerd Glasses ($22.43)? C’mon, that takes cuteness to the next level.
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Toddler Tie-Dye Tee
Every so often tie-dye leaps out of Granny’s photo album and shimmies back into fashion. The moment to splash out on Toddler Tie-Dye Tees ($19.85) is now.
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Pineapple Pants
Nappies on display at the beach or pool? Two dollars. This adorable made-by-hand Pineapple Pants ($15) nappy cover from Twinklestar on Made It? Priceless.
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Crochet Watermelon Cushion
When little ones just need something yummy to snuggle up on the couch with this Crochet Watermelon Cushion ($40) really hits the spot.
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Narwhal Moustache Whale
There are ordinary soft toys, and then there is this Narwhal Moustache Whale ($28) from Handmade by Gemmie at Down That Little Lane. Let that just sink in: Narwhal. Moustache. Whale.